Attitude of Gratitude

I've been reminded lately how very important having a positive attitude can be. Back in September of last year, I began a new chapter in my life. I became a Worship leader. My church was feeling led to reach our community in a new way. Instead of planting a new church, we decided that the Lord was calling us to plant a church satellite. The great thing about that was that we're get the benefits of all the resources in a large church while still being somewhat small. Needless to say... I didn't understand fully what I was saying yes to when I became that Worship Leader. In fact, the identity of the word "leader" had NEVER been on my radar. I was a follower, a people pleaser, and a doer, but for some reason, God called me leader. We began the church at the end of September and it was awesome. It was great meeting new people and getting to know people who I may not have ever had the pleasure of knowing had I not taken on this new adventure. What happened along the way was unexpected. I guess I never thought of how much I would miss the people at the other campus. In fact, there were many mornings that I would cry all the way to church, just longing to be back there for just a moment. I could have given in to that longing and given up, but God has called me to a new thing. , It would have been the easy way out to just resign and say I can't do this, I want the easy way out. I want to go back. but I didn't. Can I just tell you how much more I got out of every one of those mornings by choosing to follow the Lord than my own way? It was during those times that I have experienced the most amazing growth as a Worship leader. I chose to have a right attitude and press on despite how my emotions felt. I've watched people along the way become discouraged and a negative attitude rises up out of them. What is scary about that negativity is how poisonous it can be. It kills and destroy people all together......especially the one that it's coming from. It's so important to not get sucked into that kind of thinking especially in our new church atmosphere. That is EXACTLY what the enemy wants us to have. He doesn't want to see Southside Church Midlothian grow. He wants to destroy it and if he can get us to point our arrows of anger and resentment, bitterness and hatred at each other, than maybe he has a chance at making us go under. I'm going to fight for all it's worth to never let that happen. What we have got to remember is that we have alot of people watching us as leaders. The question that they are asking is...why should I want to step into a role of serving? What is your life showing? Is it a poisonous attitude? One that says...don't step into a role of serving. No one will be grateful for all you do. They will use and abuse you. Or do you have an attitude of gratitude? One that says... this is not about me. It's about doing everything I can to assure that the people around me experience the same freedom in Christ that I have found. The joy in the reward of following Him? I can assure you of this....if you will choose to have the latter of the two attitudes, we will NEVER have an issue of people wanting to step up and serve. What kind of attitude do you have? I choose joy.